麻豆社区

COVID-19 has shut down schools, gyms, and other facilities Yukon athletes train to better themselves at their respective sports.

Although athletes may not be able to do the physical training they are accustomed to, Tracey Bilsky, executive director - Sport Yukon, and sports psychologist said now is a time athletes can practice their mental training.

鈥淣ormally, the athletes have so much going on with school, school sports, outside training and some have part-time jobs,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淢ental training falls to the wayside when starting out and some exercises are just as important to do in a non-sports setting.鈥�

When Bilsky got into sports psychology, she said the field was still new and that it was important to show that it鈥檚 a valuable part of performance.

Now, Bilsky said there are many tools out there at an athlete鈥檚 disposal.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a time to be creative and share the webinars that are out there,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淪o many groups out there that are understanding.鈥�

With less access to training facilities and coaches, Bilsky said the athletes will have to take it upon themselves to continue their progress.

鈥淜ids are resilient but right now have less guidance in their facilities,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淚t will take creative thought to push themselves.鈥�

Before COVID-19, Bilsky spoke about the importance of setting goals in an athlete鈥檚 development. Even now, she said it鈥檚 key to keep your eyes on your goals.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really important to set short term goals,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淯sually, you set long term goals then break it down. Now, with the uncertainty, transitional goals are uncertain but short term goals become effective.

鈥淚f you spend to much time unmotivated, that鈥檚 fear 鈥� keep pushing the marker ahead. Keep moving the yardstick farther ahead. Have something per day to work on and focus on.鈥�

Bilsky said athletes need to avoid the word 鈥渟hould鈥� because it creates guilt.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about deciding now,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淚magine the feeling of not being ready. Athletes can be programmed. This is an opportunity for them to drive and to shoot themselves above.

鈥淚f they reframe it as an opportunity to soar above the rest, that鈥檚 a healthy way of looking at it.鈥�

Bilsky said athletes need to understand that their competitors aren鈥檛 taking time off and are still training at some capacity.

鈥淥ther athletes are taking the opportunity so you have to go push hard,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淯se this as a time to recognize guidance doesn鈥檛 just come from coaches, but yourself.鈥�

A mental exercise Bilsky said athletes, or anyone, could be practicing is what she calls 鈥渋nside, outside鈥� which deals with focus.

鈥淚t trains the ability to flip,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淚nside is when you focus on what you are thinking and feeling. Outside is what you see or hear. It鈥檚 important to learn to flip.鈥�

Bilsky used a cross country ski race as an example of focusing inside.

鈥淚n a cross country ski race you are going uphill and you are starting to feel it in your legs and inside you feel tired,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淚f you flip to outside 鈥� focus on a certain tree, create a mini challenge and take the focus off the fatigue.鈥�

The opposite is true at a swim meet for example and that鈥檚 a good time to focus on the inside.

鈥淎 swim meet is crazy,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淭here is lots of noise and people around. Our cups will start to fill and we will have limited brain space. If the cup is full there is no ability to focus.

鈥淚f you flip from the outside to the inside you鈥檒l focus on anything that鈥檚 internal to distract from the outside.鈥�

Bilsky said this can be done in a non-sport setting and to try starting with six-ins and six-outs a day.

鈥淒o it in your regular life,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淭ry it on a hike or while riding the bus and eventually it gets easier.鈥�

Practicing your mental training and setting goals, Bilsky said, is important for athletes and non-athletes alike.

鈥淗appiness comes from achieving things,鈥� said Bilsky. 鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult now but we are all in this together.鈥�